An Amish Quilting Bee: Three Stories

Written by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller and Shelley Shepard Gray

Narrated by Lauren Berst

Three charming stories of cozy quilting circles and budding romance

Patchwork Promises by Amy Clipston 

When Colin Zook and his beloved grandmother lose everything in a fire, their greatest loss is a beloved family heirloom quilt that helped keep her dementia at bay. When Joanne Lapp hears about the loss, she decides to re-create the quilt. Colin soon feels himself developing feelings for her, but he’s held back by the knowledge that a future with him would involve care of his grandmother and his farm. Will Joanne look past his list of responsibilities and see him for who he truly is?

A Common Thread by Kathleen Fuller 

Susie Glick returns from a shopping trip laden with beautiful fabric for her quilting group. On the bus ride, Alex Lehman—her crush from three years ago—sits next to her. Alex left Middlefield to explore the country, and now he’s back and ready to join the church. Susie was just a kid when he left, but now she’s a woman—and she definitely has his interest. The women in her quilting circle aren’t as excited about Alex’s return, assuming that he’ll leave again in search of adventure. Susie is convinced they’re wrong, but just as they start dating, Alex tells Susie he has to leave. He says he’ll return, but Susie must decide whether or not she can trust the man she fears has captured her heart.

Stitched Together by Shelley Shepard Gray 

Rosie’s joy is her yearly project for the Pinecraft Mennonite Quilt Sale, and she dreams of being the top earner. But she’s worried that she’s bitten off more than she can chew with her latest entry. To make things even more confusing, after coming to terms with her single state, she’s recently formed a friendship with Tim Christner. He’s only in town for a month, but he has Rosie wondering if she’s found love at last. Now all she has to do is figure out how to get the quilt done so she can concentrate on him. But with her once very organized life in total disarray, everything comes to a head just before the sale. Rosie is forced to reexamine her priorities before she loses not only her place in the quilt show but everything else she’s ever wanted.

• Sweet Amish novellas with happily-ever-afters
• Book length: 75,000 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Dec 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9780310365877

Amy Clipston

Amy Clipston is an award-winning bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She's sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at AmyClipston.com; Facebook: @AmyClipstonBooks; Twitter: @AmyClipston; Instagram: @amy_clipston; BookBub: @AmyClipston.

Reviews for An Amish Quilting Bee

[kevin shumway · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

These were very inspiring stories to read! I really enjoyed them!

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An Amish Quilting Bee is a collection of three novellas by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Shelley Shepard Gray, and reading each story is a delightful way to end the holiday season. All three stories center around quilts and Amish life, but above all, they are a testament to the power of love!The first novella is Patchwork Promises, and Clipston proves her ability to place readers right there in the story! I loved Colin Zook's love and dedication as he cared for his grandmother who is suffering dementia, and I admired that Joanne Lapp wanted to help him in his efforts. Will Joanne succeed in making a quilt that will help soothe his Mammi? Better yet, will the friendship between Joanne and Colin turn into something even more precious?Author Kathleen Fuller explores all of the emotions associated with losing your first love and then having that person turn up out of the blue. Will Susie's romantic feelings resurface, or will her family's doubts about Alex overrule those emotions? A Common Thread is a sweet, second-chance story that focuses on trust, hope, and forgiveness.Stitched Together is the final novella, and Shelley Shepard Gray raises some thought-provoking questions. Rosie Raber finds herself overextended, as she tries to complete a special quilt, care for her pregnant sister's family, and perhaps find time to spend with a young man who is visiting Pinecraft for a short period. Gray made me feel all of the frustration and guilt that Rosie experienced as she yearned for 'me time'. I know that we are taught to serve our fellow man, but when is it okay to draw the line, and finally say "No"?Yes, these novellas are fiction, but they share so many truths, and pose so many questions about faith, family, and friendship. Having these three exceptional authors together in one collection is a treat, and I recommend An Amish Quilting Bee to all who enjoy Amish fiction and Christian romance.I received a complimentary copy of this book, but there was no obligation for a favorable review. I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.

[ladyofthelodge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Three stories about Amish women make up the contents of this book. In each story, quilts or quilting play a prominent role. In the first story titled Patchwork Promises, Joanne creates a replacement quilt for an elderly lady, and finds an attraction to her grandson. In the second story, A Common Thread, Susie, a young Amish woman, finds herself in the company of a man for whom she carries a secret crush. Eager to warm the fires of their friendship, past secrets and troubles threaten to mar their relationship. In Stitched Together, the final story, Rosie struggles to finish a quilt for a contest and auction. Although she is a talented quilter, circumstances conspire to stand in her way. Each story contains a romantic thread, as well as thoughtful details about the Amish culture. The characters are realistic, confronting problems of dementia, grief, and shyness. The fine qualities of each woman are highlighted in the stories. The settings differ,but serve as appropriate backdrops for the action in each story. Readers who enjoy a clean read, without strong language or descriptive intimacy, will empathize with the characters, and will find these stories to be a welcome addition to the repertoire of literature about Amish people.I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you want sweet Amish romances this is the book for you. I love all three of the authors that wrote stories for this book. They have never disappointed me with any of their stories. Each of these stories are based around Christmas and quilts. These stories will make you laugh and cry. I did not want to put the book down until I had read all three stories. These stories are very inspirational. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An Amish Quilting Bee by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Shelley Shepard Gray contains three charming Amish tales. I enjoyed all three tales of these sweet novellas. Patchwork Promises by Amy Clipston has Colin Zook taking care of his dairy farm and his grandmother on his own. They have endured a great deal of loss recently including a fire that destroyed their home and belonging. His grandmother particularly feels the loss of a beloved quilt. Joanne Lapp learns about the quilt and sets out to recreate it. Joanne wants to make sure to get it right which results in spending time with Colin. Colin finds himself falling in love with Joanne, but he is sure that she could not care for him because of his responsibilities. What does God have in store for Joanne and Colin? A Common Thread by Kathleen Fuller has Susie Glick thrilled to discover that Alex Lehman has returned to town after two years. Susie was a teenager when Alex left, but now he notices that she is a lovely woman. They just begin dating when Alex must leave town. Alex is shocked when he gets a letter from Susie calling off their courtship. He does not understand Susie’s change of heart. Will Alex accept her decision or fight for the woman he loves? Stitched Together by Shelley Shepard Gray has Rosie working on an intricate quilt for the annual Pinecraft Mennonite Quilt Sale. The proceeds help mission efforts, and the top quilt gets special recognition. Rosie is worried she will not get the quilt done in time. Then she meets Tim Christner, her sister’s brother-in-law. Rosie wants to spend time with Tim while he is in town, but she has other obligations. Everything is spiraling out of control for Rosie. Can Rosie get her priorities in order before it is too late? I thought the three stories were well-written with realistic, developed characters. I liked the life lessons we get from these novellas. The importance of faith and what we are willing to do for those we love, everyone deserves a second chance and people can change, and as love develops, we must grow with it. We also see the importance of communication in a relationship and to always follow God’s lead. I like how the quilt theme ties the three stories together. I enjoy stories that touch my heart and leave me smiling. An Amish Quilting Bee has three sweet tales that are perfect for reading on a cold afternoon while snuggling under a cozy quilt.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Three novella's to get lost in, you can read one or more as the pages fly, and before you know it the last page is turned.We are given three different stories, and there is a bit of romance, and each has a significant quilt involved. Your heart will go out to these folks, the road is not easy to find what their heart desires, but we get to enjoy the journey.This book did not disappoint, except when I ran out of pages!I received this book though Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.